Former Tannin's Chef Opens Late-Night Restaurant Upstairs

Chef Jonpaul Ugay wants to grind premium hamburger patties and pour draft beers after most San Juan Capistrano restaurants have closed.

On Oct. 18 he opened Palm Restaurant and Catering above —where he worked for three years. It's open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and until 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Sundays.

Although the menu includes 10 draft beers and a selection of steaks and appetizers, such as corn fritters with a tamarind soy chili glaze, Ugay has turned his attention to another void in San Juan Capistrano dining: hamburgers.

"There is not a place in San Juan in my opinion that sells good hamburgers so what we are doing here is a high quality burger for a fairly low price," Ugay said.

Owner Bryan McKay teamed up with Ugay, who trained at Le Courdon Blue in San Francisco, to build a complete selection of burgers ranging in price from $7 to $25, and Béarnaise sauces of which the cabernet demi sauce is a staple. Ugay's favorites on the menu include the Shiitaki burger and the lamb burger.

"We take a combination of our filet mignon pieces, short rib, and outside skirt and grind that all together to form our patties, then season them with ground pepper," he said.

The Palm is one big room equipped with five big screen TVs for sports nights and a tiered bar that "makes you wanna drink."

Despite a rather slow soft opening, Ugay said he trusts that the regulars in the area such as those that eat at Tannin's will venture upstairs, too. He has promotions like Taco Tuesday lined up after the soft opening that ends the second week of November.

"I think we are going to do well and when people come they will feel welcome," he said.   

Palm Restaurant and Catering is located at 27211 Ortega Hwy., Suite B. For more information, contact the restaurant at (949) 481-2723.